System and method to stop underwater oil well leaks

Abstract

System for stopping underwater oil leaks, in which the leaking oil may be stopped by a magnetic material/electromagnet plate through which there is an opening connected to a hose or pressurized line through which a gas or liquid is forced. The magnetic material/electromagnet plate is adhered to a caisson, charged electrically if need be, and a gas or liquid, under pressure, is used to force expansion of the closed-end of the bladder/ballon to form a rigid inflated balloon/bladder that plugs the opening, thereby shutting off the leak until the caisson break can be repaired.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portion of an underwater structure altered to stop the flow of crude oil there-through, said altered structure including a rupture through which crude oil is escaping, said altered structure comprising:
 an outer wall means of a damaged caisson defining a rupture or opening; and   a rubber seal or gasket means adhered to a magnetic material/electromagnet, with an opening through which a bladder/ balloon means is passed under the influence of pressurized gas or a pressurized liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet means is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         3 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet means is neodymium-iron-boron. 
     
     
         4 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet means is positioned across said opening to stem flow of crude oil. 
     
     
         5 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet means is positioned across and extends into said opening. 
     
     
         6 . A method of stopping a flow of crude oil through an underwater altered structure including a rupture through which crude oil is escaping, comprising;
 attaching a rubber seal or gasket means adhered to a magnetic material/electromagnet means with an opening through which a bladder/balloon means is passed under the influence of pressurized gas or a pressurized liquid over an outer wall means of a damaged caisson defining a rupture or opening;   adhering said magnetic material/electromagnet means to an outer wall opening means of said damaged caisson; and   passing a pressurized gas or liquid to inflate said bladder/ balloon.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet means is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet is means neodymium-iron-boron. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic/material electromagnet means is positioned across and extends into said opening. 
     
     
         10 . The altered underwater structure of  claim 1  where said caisson wall comprises a metallic element capable of adhering to said magnetic material/electromagnet. 
     
     
         11 . The underwater structure of  claim 2 , wherein said magnetic material/electromagnet is neodymium-iron-boron. 
     
     
         12 . The underwater structure of  claim 1  wherein said rubber seal or gasket means is selected from polydimethyl siloxane (silicone) sealant, polychloroprene and HDPE thermoplastic. 
     
     
         13 . The underwater structure of  claim 1 , wherein said bladder/balloon means is selected from polyisoprene styrenebutaiene copolymer (styrenebutadiene rubber), polybutadiene (butadiene rubber), acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (nitrile rubber), isobutyleneisoprene (butyl rubber), ethylenepropylene monomer (EPM), ethylenepropylene-diene monomer (EPDM), polychloroprene (neoprene), polysulfide (Thiokol), polydimethyl siloxane (silicone), fluoroelastomer, polyacrylate elastomer, polyethylene (chlorinated, chlorosulfonated), styrene-isoprenestyrene (SIS), styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS) block copolymer and EPDM-polypropylene blend. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said rubber seal or gasket means is selected from polydimethyl siloxane (silicone) sealant, polychloroprene and HDPE thermoplastic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said bladder/balloon means is selected from polyisoprene styrenebutaiene copolymer (styrenebutadiene rubber), polybutadiene (butadiene rubber), acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (nitrile rubber), isobutyleneisoprene (butyl rubber), ethylenepropylene monomer (EPM), ethylenepropylene-diene monomer (EPDM), polychloroprene (neoprene), polysulfide (Thiokol), polydimethyl siloxane (silicone), fluoroelastomer, polyacrylate elastomer, polyethylene (chlorinated, chlorosulfonated), styrene-isoprenestyrene (SIS), styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS) block copolymer and EPDM-polypropylene blend.